AFTER the Irish hockey team's sapping defeat by Belgium in the World Cup qualifying tournament in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, it will take a huge effort and renewal of workrate if lost ground is to be made up in the second assignment against South Korea tonight.
The fast-moving Koreans did not need to overstretch themselves in starting their programme with a 4-2 win over ever-willing Belarus while there was also an early three-point dividend for New Zealand in Pool B, with their 3-1 victory at the expense of Argentina coming as a minor surprise.
In Pool A, it was unnerving for Malaysia to lose 5-3 to Poland as the Poles attacked with a typical lack of inhibition and scored several splendid goals to match the grandeur of the £20 million purpose-built Bukil Jalil stadium. Ready for next year's Commonwealth Games here, the compact 12,000 seater arena cannot be rivalled in hockey circles anywhere in the world.
But it was a torrid location for Ireland yesterday - and for Belgium. The heat (93F) was "awful" said their captain Marc Coudron who nevertheless played a telling role in the heart of the defence.
Both sides tried to keep down the pace and it was not a great spectacle compared to the preceding Poland-Malaysia match. Belgium, though made the crucial first breakthrough, forcing a short corner after three minutes from which Joeri Beunen scored with clinical expertise.
"Yes, the first goal was vital," emphasised Ireland coach Cees Koppelaar. "We deserved to equalise and had more chances to win with 60 to 70 per cent of control but their counter- attacking was very quick and difficult to cope with."
Much of Ireland's play was encouraging. Daniel Clarke never spared himself in mid- field while Neil Cooke posed his usual threat in driving from deep positions and there were several occasions when there might have been a dividend from thrusts to the backline.
The equaliser came deservedly midway through the second half when Alan Dowd increased the tempo by switching to the central pivotal role. A pair of short corners were forced, from the second of which Alastair Dunne found a gap to rattle the backboards.
So, at 1-1, there was all to play for. Ivan Bateman's sharpness off the line kept out the Belgian raiders and then Robbie Taylor - coming on as a substitute after missing the week's acclimatisation - managed to put extra beef into the Irish offensives.
Taylor almost succeeded in sending new cap Mark Tumilty in to score but the debutant was foiled by what seemed to be a penalty offence. In the next attack, Clarke smashed a shot against the bar before cruelly, six minutes from the end, Sebastien Mommens setup the chance for Alexandre de Chaffoy to knock in an aerial ball from close range for the decisive goal.
The relief for Belgium was immense while for Ireland the reverse was hard to take, particularly, as Koppelaar said, "after playing so hard." However, the Koreans - though finishing as high as fifth in the Olympics in Atlanta - could find themselves a trifle light- weight if facing a full Irish press in conditions which be somewhat less demanding for them tonight.
